An analysis of stakeholders and the impact that implementation of Case Study

An analysis of stakeholders and the impact that implementation of particular option will have on them - Case Study Example An analysis of stakeholders and the impact that implementation of particular option will have on them There is little doubt in the fact that the third option is likely to have a positive impact on the image and reputation of the company. The latter is likely to react to it with a boost of performance. In this case the following opportunity emerges: the company will be able to restore its good name. However, the major challenge that is posed by the option is that it will probably have a negative impact in terms of finances, but in the long term perspective it will surely win. The next important stakeholder, the role of which cannot be undermined is Halo Ethical Fund. It is identified as the body that has made the biggest investment and, therefore, it will be affected by the decision a lot. It is quite obvious that this stakeholder is likely to experience serious negative impacts that are brought by the option three, since it will involve more investment and the price per stock is not likely to rise in the future. However, the best reaction in this case would be implementing the chosen option and making sure that it brings the positive consequence in the future. If this stakeholder takes half measures, the outcome will be devastating. Speaking of the opportunities that it might experience, one should point out that if option three works out, the performance of the company will improve and so will the return on investment.

The Wizard of Oz Film Review Essay Example for Free

The Wizard of Oz Film Review Essay Hailed as perhaps one of the most influential movies of the present time, the film The Wizard of Oz has continued to mesmerize adults and children alike for many years.   Based on the 1900s novel entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the movie adaptation starring Judy Garland as Dorothy captured the imagination of many.   Given its success, this short discourse will now attempt to provide a formal criticism, which is an attempt to examine the way in which the movie is crafted without regard for the standards of truth or morality.    This objective will attempt to shed light on the wonder that is The Wizard of Oz.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The plot of the movie is quite simple, to say the least, as it involves the adventures of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, as they search for a way back home.   During their travels they encounter a number of characters who each have their own problems and together they march off to meet the Wizard of Oz who can help them.   This is a basic plot that is found in most adventure stories.   Yet as shown in this movie, it is the interplay of all the literary elements which make it the hit that it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As mentioned, the characters, the setting, the symbol metaphors and tone elements, all play a crucial role in the development of the theme and the plot.   Thought Dorothy is no longer alone in Oz, her companions are not exactly the perfect bunch.   Each has a handicap that works for or against them and this is shown in the clashes with the minions of the Wicked Witch of the West.   It becomes a more compelling story as the setting lends to the magical feeling that the audience experiences.   The colorful sets and the outrageous costumes all add to the already rich image that is presented.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, the storyline is masterfully climaxed when Dorothy finds out that the ruby slippers, which have undoubtedly become an icon of the present generation, are magical and can take her home as long as she clicks her heels together.   This wonderful interplay of elements is what makes The Wizard of Oz the wonderfully magical tale that it is.

Issues in Age and Entering the Workforce

Issues in Age and Entering the Workforce Problems Confronted by Mature Workers Re-entering the Workforce and Young Adult Workers Looking to Enter the Workforce after College Brandi Thomas-Scott Post University Problems confronted by mature workers re-entering the workforce and young adult workers looking to enter the workforce after college Whether just starting out in the workforce or returning to the workforce after being retired, finding a job in today’s market comes with some challenges. In todays economy it is difficult to find individuals who are not struggling to find employment or sustain the position they currently hold (Brown, 2012). The recession and massive layoffs have more than just hit the lower and middle class workers; an abundance of educated professionals and experienced retired professional are struggling to find stable employment (Brown, 2012). This paper will discuss why mature retired workers returning to the workforce and young recent college graduates are struggling to find employment, and why social standing and a post-secondary education does not always count when it comes to job security. The effects of a recession and a poor job market can be felt by the most experienced professionals, as well as by recent college graduates looking for opportunities to enter the workforce (Brown, 2012 ). Regardless of the motivation behind each of these groups search for gainful employment, they face various forms of resistance while trying to find and secure employment. Retirees Returning To the Workforce Since our country’s economic breakdown, there have not been enough jobs created for our population of workers, and even fewer positions are available for those of advanced age (Brown, 2012). Demographic and current trends suggest that the U.S. will be witnessing mature workers dynamically involved in the workforce, either due to financial need or their preference and ability to do so (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). In fact retirement is beginning to no longer be a permanent event. Older individuals departing from the labor force is becoming more gradual, and countless workers are changing jobs before actually leaving the workforce completely, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Brandon, 2011). Many of these workers do not see themselves as older workers, while unfortunately society believes differently and this is where a majority of the problems faced by older workers begin (Brown, 2012). Many mature workers need assistance navigating a complicated labor market, identify ing available career opportunities, and determining their education and training needs in order to improve their chance of employability and impact to the workplace (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). Many factors cause mature workers to re-enter the workforce, such as dis-satisfaction with retirement life, inadequate retirement savings, and aspiration to improve their quality of life (Brown, 2012). According to Pew Charitable Trusts (2012) , regardless of these reasons many mature workers are subjected to prolonged periods of unemployment, which makes it challenging for them to become reemployed (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). Recent studies have also mirrored this sentiment and have reported findings that affirm that barely half of mature workers who lost their jobs and were actively seeking employment were successful (Li, 2010). Many employers are reluctant to hire mature workers due to their negative perceptions, which include the following: Mature workers are expensive to employ due to their wages, health insurance cost, and the cost associated with to training. Mature workers are less productive due to their age and produce lower quality work. Mature workers are unable to adapt to change at work (Walker, 2007). Due to this type of thinking many mature workers are facing increased occurrences of age discrimination both before they are hired and while they are employed (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). Even though the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects mature workers from age based employment discrimination, and pertains to both employees and job applicants; age discrimination claims still accounts for approximately one-quarter of the complaints filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). According to a survey conducted by AARP, â€Å"one-third to one-half of baby boomers had experienced age bias in a job search† (Heidkamp Heldrich, 2012). As a result of the misconceptions and challenges facing mature workers, one of the first tasks that career counselors must do is assist their client in â€Å"identifying and [eliminating] some of their own beliefs about themselves;† in order to counter any negative thoughts that were created by their discriminatory experiences (Brown, 2012, p 136). Counselors need to help them come to terms with the following facts: As people age their personalities do tend to become fixed, but flexibility in your youth usually tends to continue on as you age. Mature workers are just as productive as younger workers, and at time even more productive. Being overqualified for a position is very likely for mature worker and may cause angst, but depending on the reason they are working (ie. to supplement their existing income), it may not be an issue because the job may allow them to have a flexible schedule. Regardless of the age of a supervisor their characteristics are the only things that determine their relationship with employees. Mature workers learn just as well as younger workers. A decline in strength is not a direct result of old age, but lack of exercise. Although a decline in sight and hearing is a part of the aging process, many advancements in device technology that aide these areas make these concerns no longer an issue (Brown, 2012). Even though finding employment at a mature age can be challenging, it is not altogether impossible. It takes the development of new skills, such as interviewing techniques, but mature workers may also require additional education and/or training that will help improve their employability in the workforce (Brown, 2012). Young Recent College Graduates We like to believe that a young adult as prepared to launch easily into the workforce and their careers, but the reality is that this transition in today’s economy is fraught with many difficulties (Brown, 2012). Young workers of today are no longer given the opportunity of job security; employment instability seems to be the new reality in our society (Kahn, 2010). Regardless of the extensive misperceptions by employers that young workers lack a work ethic, unlike mature workers, the truth is that many young workers in today’s economy are forceed to work several jobs and work longer hours in order to afford the rising cost of basic living expenses (Draut, 2006). One of the main factors affecting recent young graduates entering the workforce is that they are coming out of school lacking workplace skills, which causes employers to be apprehensive about hiring recent graduates (Draut, 2006). Many employers believe that these young men and women are ill prepared for the workforce, and the societal shift in workforce values has employers expecting young applicants to come equipped with a fundamental set of basic understandings and the aptitude to apply their skills in their new place of work (Draut, 2006). These set of skills and understandings, also known as experience, is what is hindering this population from being hired. Employers have asserted their belief that recent grads lack professionalism and/or work ethic (Kahn, 2010). The data being circulated are showing that many recent grads today are having trouble keep up in the workplace, if they are even lucky enough to find employment (Grasgreen 2014). Employers surveyed consider recent gradu ates lack of readiness to be their most important issue that is keep them from being hired, 62 percent also believe that unprepared for the workforce can damage the â€Å"day-to-day productivity of their businesses† (Pianin, 2014). Many recent graduates are finding it difficult to secure an employment, and those that are fortunate to find employment are often finding themselves underemployed and restricted to low-wage positions (Abel, Deitz, Su, 2014). These facts have begins to make graduates questions if their college degree is even worth anything anymore (Abel, Deitz, Su, 2014). According to the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll (Gallup. 2010a) â€Å"nearly one-fifth of employed [graduates] are underemployed† and not using any of the skills they have obtained from their post-secondary education (Brown, 2012, p 292). Overall many of the issue facing young recent college graduates revolve around their lack of experience, preparedness, skills, and training (Pianin, 2014). According to an analysis done by Time, many employers are not motivated to hire recent grads due to their inability to navigate the office setting, and their lack of communication and interpersonal skills (Pianin, 2014). Recent grads just seem to unprepared for corporate culture and lack the experience to be effective employees, but these belief either true or a misconception is causing jobs to go unfilled and applicants forced to take what is available to them regardless of their educational background (Kahn, 2010). Many young recent graduates believe that these misconceptions are causing them to be looked over for employment, and in actuality they believed that they are being due to their age (Amour, 2003). It is the job of career counselors to assist young applicants in overcoming these misconceptions through employability trai ning, internships, and occupational information that will help prepare them for what the workforce have become in a difficult economy (Brown, 2012). Conclusion Mature and young applicants face various misconceptions that are hindering their ability to secure gainful employment (Brown, 2012). Form the mature workers being categorized as over qualified, inflexible, less productive, and medically unreliable (Brown, 2012). While young workers are seen as being unprepared, lacking communication and interpersonal skills, lacking experience, and a solid work ethic (Draut, 2006). Both of these populations are believe to be unprepared for how the corporate culture works leaving both populations either unemployed or underemployed in today’s economy (Brown, 2012). Both groups are also experiencing instances of discrimination due to their mature age or their lack of maturity/experience, and both are believe to lack the skills necessary to be valuable employees regardless of their educational background, experience, or lack of experience (Amour, 2003). Employers and researchers seem to believe that there are individual out there that are in the m iddle of these two extremes that can fill these positions, yet positions are going unfilled (Abel, Deitz, Su, 2014). This is where employee development and organizational development can be utilized to help both of these groups transform from a so-so employee to a skilled a valuable employee who helps increase organization growth (Brown, 2012. References Abel, J. R., Dietz, R., Su, Y. (2014). Are recent college graduates finding good jobs? Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 20(1). Retrieved from: http://www.newyorkfed.org/research/current_issues/ci20-1.pdf Amour, S. (2003). Young workers say their age holds them back. USA Today. Retrieved from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2003-10-07-reverseage_x.htm Brandon, E. (2011). Why your retirement may not be permanent: Consider these increasingly popular alternative paths to retirement. U.S.News. Retrieved from: http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2011/08/22/why-your-retirement-may-not-be-permanent Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson Education, Inc. Draut, T. (2006). Strapped: Why America’s 20- and 30-somethings can’t get ahead. New York, NY. Doubleday Publishing. Grasgreen, A. (2014). Ready or not: Are college graduates prepared for the workforce? Only university administrators seem to think so. Slate.com. Retrieved from: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/inside_higher_ed/2014/02/gallup_higher_education_poll_college_graduates_aren_t_prepared_for_the_workforce.html Heidkamp, M. Heldrich, J, (2012). Older workers, rising skill requirements, and the need for a re-envisioning of the public workforce system. CAEL Publishing. Retrieved from: http://www.cael.org/pdfs/TMT_Reenvision_Public_Workforce_System Kahn, Lisa B. (April 2010). The Long-Term Labor Market Consequences of Graduating from College in a Bad Economy. Labour Economics, 17(2): p 303-16 Li, X. (2010). Extending the working lives of older workers: The impact of social security policies and labor market (Doctoral Dissertation). Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Retrieved from: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/rgs_dissertations/2010/RAND_RGSD265.pdf Pianin, E. (2014). The surprising reason college grads can’t get a job. CNBC. Retrieved from: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101373230 Walker, D. M. (2007). Older workers: Some best practices and strategies for engaging and retaining older workers (GAO-07-433T). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office. Retrieved from: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07433t.pdf

Essay --

Step 1. Provide a summary of the scientific article addressing these questions: The publication Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society from the United Kingdom claims to be a publication devoted to a specific area of the biological sciences that aims to define a research frontier that is advancing rapidly, often bridging traditional disciplines. Hand before foot? Cortical somatotopy suggests manual dexterity is primitive and evolved independently of bipedalism, published October 7, 2103 by Teruo Hashimoto et al, certainly seems to support this publication’s claims. 1. What issues in physical and biological anthropology are addressed and why are they important? This newly published research from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute addresses a long-standing question in physical and biological anthropology; did manual dexterity evolve first in early hominins, as a requirement to make and use tools with their hands, or did it evolve in response to bipedal locomotion, after their hands were free to use? This mystery in human evolution is important to solve because by knowing what evolved first (dexterous hand or agile foot) researchers can better learn how early hominins lived and how they evolved into modern humans. This newly published research also addresses another very important issue in physical and biological anthropology; it introduces new scientific testing methods available to study evolution that can be used to re-evaluate long-standing evolutionary theories. In this case the study of comparative brain physiology for humans and monkeys was used to help establish the study findings. 2. What is the hypothesis or main question being tested? -The hypothesis/main question being tested is what evolved first, dexterous... ...arranted based on the new comparative brain physiology research methodology that was performed, and the study of the more recent hand and foot fossil remains of the species Ardipithecus ramidus support the findings. Step 2. Compare scientific article with press report addressing the following questions: How well did the press report accurately reflect the research article? I believe that the press report reflected the research article very accurately. The hypothesis was stated and was accurately answered. Is the information present correct or misleading? The information that is present in the press report is correct and does not mislead How would you have presented this report differently? The way in which I would have presented this report is I would have done more research along the lines of other evolutionary traits of monkeys and humans and then looked at

Causes of obesity Essay

Alderman describes the problem with great success that gets the reader’s attention. She introduces the problem by explaining common causes of obesity, which are addressed in Michelle Obama’s campaign recently. Referring to the nation’s first lady to address her issue, Alderman intensifies the problem so the reader can â€Å"see† it better. She then quotes the Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistic that â€Å"one of three children in this country is overweight or obese.† The author also uses statistics and facts to dramatize the problem making the reader actually â€Å"feel† the problem, thus appealing to their pathos. She evokes a sense of anxiousness for the parents because they may feel surprised and worried if their children have the same problem with obesity. To inspire such pathos and to further convince the reader that the problem must be solved, she applies logos. She explains that if action is not taken, many kids are at risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In addition, by referring to Michelle Obama and giving credit to a study and relevant sources, she also establishes her ethos. By creating pathos, logos, and ethos while describing the problem, Alderman is very effective in giving the problem presence. Alderman is also very successful in describing her solution; she does a terrific job of enhancing the power of her proposal through striking visual texts. Each element in her solution is emphasized with capitalized, bold headings such as â€Å"FACE THE FACTS.† Within these categories are her recommendations to all parents. She speaks directly to them and her goal is to inform them of new information about what they can do to keep their family healthy and avoid childhood obesity. Using the visual technique, Alderman creates a sense of trustworthiness, which appeals to her audience to do what is recommended.

Chapter 4 Back to the Burrow

By twelve o'clock the next day, Harry's school trunk was packed with his school things and all his most prized possessions – the Invisibility Cloak he had inherited from his father, the broomstick he had gotten from Sirius, the enchanted map of Hogwarts he had been given by Fred and George Weasley last year. He had emptied his hiding place under the loose floorboard of all food, double-checked every nook and cranny of his bedroom for forgotten spellbooks or quills, and taken down the chart on the wall counting down the days to September the first, on which he liked to cross off the days remaining until his return to Hogwarts. The atmosphere inside number four, Privet Drive was extremely tense. The imminent arrival at their house of an assortment of wizards was making the Dursleys uptight and irritable. Uncle Vernon had looked downright alarmed when Harry informed him that the Weasleys would be arriving at five o'clock the very next day. â€Å"I hope you told them to dress properly, these people,† he snarled at once. â€Å"I've seen the sort of stuff your lot wear. They'd better have the decency to put on normal clothes, that's all.† Harry felt a slight sense of foreboding. He had rarely seen Mr. or Mrs. Weasley wearing anything that the Dursleys would call â€Å"normal.† Their children might don Muggle clothing during the holidays, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley usually wore long robes in varying states of shabbiness. Harry wasn't bothered about what the neighbors would think, but he was anxious about how rude the Dursleys might be to the Weasleys if they turned up looking like their worst idea of wizards. Uncle Vernon had put on his best suit. To some people, this might have looked like a gesture of welcome, but Harry knew it was because Uncle Vernon wanted to look impressive and intimidating. Dudley, on the other hand, looked somehow diminished. This was not because the diet was at last taking effect, but due to fright. Dudley had emerged from his last encounter with a fully grown wizard with a curly pig's tail poking out of the seat of his trousers, and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had had to pay for its removal at a private hospital in London. It wasn't altogether surprising, therefore, that Dudley kept running his hand nervously over his backside, and walking sideways from room to room, so as not to present the same target to the enemy. Lunch was an almost silent meal. Dudley didn't even protest at the food (cottage cheese and grated celery). Aunt Petunia wasn't, eating anything at all. Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she longed to throw at Harry. â€Å"They'll be driving, of course?† Uncle Vernon barked across the table. â€Å"Er,† said Harry. He hadn't thought of that. How were the Weasleys going to pick him up? They didn't have a car anymore; the old Ford Anglia they had once owned was currently running wild in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. But Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of Magic car last year; possibly he would do the same today? â€Å"I think so,† said Harry. Uncle Vernon snorted into his mustache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would have asked what car Mr. Weasley drove; he tended to judge other men by how big and expensive their cars were. But Harry doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have taken to Mr. Weasley even if he drove a Ferrari. Harry spent most of the afternoon in his bedroom; he couldn't stand watching Aunt Petunia peer out through the net curtains every few seconds, as though there had been a warning about an escaped rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to five, Harry went back downstairs and into the living room. Aunt Petunia was compulsively straightening cushions. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the paper, but his tiny eyes were not moving, and Harry was sure he was really listening with all his might for the sound of an approaching car. Dudley was crammed into an armchair, his porky hands beneath him, clamped firmly around his bottom. Harry couldn't take the tension; he left the room and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyes on his watch and his heart pumping fast from excitement and nerves. But five o'clock came and then went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring slightly in his suit, opened the front door, peered up and down the street, then withdrew his head quickly. â€Å"They're late!† he snarled at Harry. â€Å"I know,† said Harry. â€Å"Maybe – er – the traffic's bad, or something.† Ten past five†¦then a quarter past five†¦Harry was starting to feel anxious himself now. At half past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the living room. â€Å"No consideration at all.† â€Å"We might've had an engagement.† â€Å"Maybe they think they'll get invited to dinner if they're late.† â€Å"Well, they most certainly won't be,† said Uncle Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the living room. â€Å"They'll take the boy and go, there'll be no hanging around. That's if they're coming at all. Probably mistaken the day. I daresay their kind don't set much store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tin-pot car that's broken d -AAAAAAAARRRRRGH!† Harry jumped up. From the other side of the living room door came the sounds of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, across the room. Next moment Dudley came flying into the hall, looking terrified. â€Å"What happened?† said Harry. â€Å"What's the matter?† But Dudley didn't seem able to speak. Hands still clamped over his buttocks, he waddled as fast as he could into the kitchen. Harry hurried into the living room. Loud bangings and scrapings were coming from behind the Dursleys' boarded-up fireplace, which had a fake coal fire plugged in front of it. â€Å"What is it?† gasped Aunt Petunia, who had backed into the wall and was staring, terrified, toward the fire. â€Å"What is it, Vernon?† But they were left in doubt barely a second longer. Voices could be heard from inside the blocked fireplace. â€Å"Ouch! Fred, no – go back, go back, there's been some kind of mistake – tell George not to – OUCH! George, no, there's no room, go back quickly and tell Ron -â€Å" â€Å"Maybe Harry can hear us, Dad – maybe he'll be able to let us out -â€Å" There was a loud hammering of fists on the boards behind the electric fire. â€Å"Harry? Harry, can you hear us?† The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a pair of angry wolverines. â€Å"What is this?† growled Uncle Vernon. â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"They – they've tried to get here by Floo powder,† said Harry, fighting a mad desire to laugh. â€Å"They can travel by fire – only you've blocked the fireplace – hang on -â€Å" He approached the fireplace and called through the boards. â€Å"Mr. Weasley? Can you hear me?† The hammering stopped. Somebody inside the chimney piece said, â€Å"Shh!† â€Å"Mr. Weasley, it's Harry†¦the fireplace has been blocked up. You won't be able to get through there.† â€Å"Damn!† said Mr. Weasley's voice. â€Å"What on earth did they want to block up the fireplace for?† â€Å"They've got an electric fire,† Harry explained. â€Å"Really?† said Mr. Weasley's voice excitedly. â€Å"Eclectic, you say? With a plug? Gracious, I must see that†¦.Let's think†¦Ouch, Ron!† Ron's voice now joined the others'. â€Å"What are we doing here? Has something gone wrong?† â€Å"Oh no, Ron,† came Fred's voice, very sarcastically. â€Å"No, this is exactly where we wanted to end up.† â€Å"Yeah, we're having the time of our lives here,† said George, whose voice sounded muffled, as though he was squashed against the wall. â€Å"Boys, boys†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Mr. Weasley vaguely. â€Å"I'm trying to think what to do†¦.Yes†¦only way†¦Stand back, Harry.† Harry retreated to the sofa. Uncle Vernon, however, moved forward. â€Å"Wait a moment!† he bellowed at the fire. â€Å"What exactly are you going to -â€Å" BANG. The electric fire shot across the room as the boarded-up fireplace burst outward, expelling Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a cloud of rubble and loose chippings. Aunt Petunia shrieked and fell backward over the coffee table; Uncle Vernon caught her before she hit the floor, and gaped, speechless, at the Weasleys, all of whom had bright red hair, including Fred and George, who were identical to the last freckle. â€Å"That's better,† panted Mr. Weasley, brushing dust from his long green robes and straightening his glasses. â€Å"Ah – you must be Harry's aunt and uncle!† Tall, thin, and balding, he moved toward Uncle Vernon, his hand outstretched, but Uncle Vernon backed away several paces, dragging Aunt Petunia. Words utterly failed Uncle Vernon. His best suit was covered in white dust, which had settled in his hair and mustache and made him look as though he had just aged thirty years. â€Å"Er – yes – sorry about that,† said Mr. Weasley, lowering his hand and looking over his shoulder at the blasted fireplace. â€Å"It's all my fault. It just didn't occur to me that we wouldn't be able to get out at the other end. I had your fireplace connected to the Floo Network, you see – just for an afternoon, you know, so we could get Harry. Muggle fireplaces aren't supposed to be connected, strictly speaking – but I've got a useful contact at the Floo Regulation Panel and he fixed it for me. I can put it right in a jiffy, though, don't worry. I'll light a fire to send the boys back, and then I can repair your fireplace before I Disapparate.† Harry was ready to bet that the Dursleys hadn't understood a single word of this. They were still gaping at Mr. Weasley, thunderstruck. Aunt Petunia staggered upright again and hid behind Uncle Vernon. â€Å"Hello, Harry!† said Mr. Weasley brightly. â€Å"Got your trunk ready?† â€Å"It's upstairs,† said Harry, grinning back. â€Å"We'll get it,† said Fred at once. Winking at Harry, he and George left the room. They knew where Harry's bedroom was, having once rescued him from it in the dead of night. Harry suspected that Fred and George were hoping for a glimpse of Dudley; they had heard a lot about him from Harry. â€Å"Well,† said Mr. Weasley, swinging his arms slightly, while he tried to find words to break the very nasty silence. â€Å"Very – erm – very nice place you've got here.† As the usually spotless living room was now covered in dust and bits of brick, this remark didn't go down too well with the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon's face purpled once more, and Aunt Petunia started chewing her tongue again. However, they seemed too scared to actually say anything. Mr. Weasley was looking around. He loved everything to do with Muggles. Harry could see him itching to go and examine the television and the video recorder. â€Å"They run off eckeltricity, do they?† he said knowledgeably. â€Å"Ah yes, I can see the plugs. I collect plugs,† he added to Uncle Vernon. â€Å"And batteries. Got a very large collection of batteries. My wife thinks I'm mad, but there you are.† Uncle Vernon clearly thought Mr. Weasley was mad too. He moved ever so slightly to the right, screening Aunt Petunia from view, as though he thought Mr. Weasley might suddenly run at them and attack. Dudley suddenly reappeared in the room. Harry could hear the clunk of his trunk on the stairs, and knew that the sounds had scared Dudley out of the kitchen. Dudley edged along the wall, gazing at Mr. Weasley with terrified eyes, and attempted to conceal himself behind his mother and father. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon's bulk, while sufficient to hide bony Aunt Petunia, was nowhere near enough to conceal Dudley. â€Å"Ah, this is your cousin, is it, Harry?† said Mr. Weasley, taking another brave stab at making conversation. â€Å"Yep,† said Harry, â€Å"that's Dudley.† He and Ron exchanged glances and then quickly looked away from each other; the temptation to burst out laughing was almost overwhelming. Dudley was still clutching his bottom as though afraid it might fall off. Mr. Weasley, however, seemed genuinely concerned at Dudley's peculiar behavior. Indeed, from the tone of his voice when he next spoke, Harry was quite sure that Mr. Weasley thought Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys thought he was, except that Mr. Weasley felt sympathy rather than fear. â€Å"Having a good holiday, Dudley?† he said kindly. Dudley whimpered. Harry saw his hands tighten still harder over his massive backside. Fred and George came back into the room carrying Harry's school trunk. They glanced around as they entered and spotted Dudley. Their faces cracked into identical evil grins. â€Å"Ah, right,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Better get cracking then.† He pushed up the sleeves of his robes and took out his wand. Harry saw the Dursleys draw back against the wall as one. â€Å"Incendio!† said Mr. Weasley, pointing his wand at the hole in the wall behind him. Flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling merrily as though they had been burning for hours. Mr. Weasley took a small drawstring bag from his pocket, untied it, took a pinch of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which turned emerald green and roared higher than ever. â€Å"Off you go then, Fred,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Coming,† said Fred. â€Å"Oh no – hang on -â€Å" A bag of sweets had spilled out of Fred's pocket and the contents were now rolling in every direction – big, fat toffees in brightly colored wrappers. Fred scrambled around, cramming them back into his pocket, then gave the Dursleys a cheery wave, stepped forward, and walked right into the fire, saying â€Å"the Burrow!† Aunt Petunia gave a little shuddering gasp. There was a whooshing sound, and Fred vanished. â€Å"Right then, George,† said Mr. Weasley, â€Å"you and the trunk.† Harry helped George carry the trunk forward into the flames and turn it onto its end so that he could hold it better. Then, with a second whoosh, George had cried â€Å"the Burrow!† and vanished too. â€Å"Ron, you next,† said Mr. Weasley. â€Å"See you,† said Ron brightly to the Dursleys. He grinned broadly at Harry, then stepped into the fire, shouted â€Å"the Burrow!† and disappeared. Now Harry and Mr. Weasley alone remained. â€Å"Well†¦'bye then,† Harry said to the Dursleys. They didn't say anything at all. Harry moved toward the fire, but just as he reached the edge of the hearth, Mr. Weasley put out a hand and held him back. He was looking at the Dursleys in amazement. â€Å"Harry said good-bye to you,† he said. â€Å"Didn't you hear him?† â€Å"It doesn't matter,† Harry muttered to Mr. Weasley. â€Å"Honestly, I don't care.† Mr. Weasley did not remove his hand from Harry's shoulder. â€Å"You aren't going to see your nephew till next summer,† he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. â€Å"Surely you're going to say good-bye?† Uncle Vernon's face worked furiously. The idea of being taught consideration by a man who had just blasted away half his living room wall seemed to be causing him intense suffering. But Mr. Weasley's wand was still in his hand, and Uncle Vernon's tiny eyes darted to it once, before he said, very resentfully, â€Å"Good-bye, then.† â€Å"See you,† said Harry, putting one foot forward into the green flames, which felt pleasantly like warm breath. At that moment, however, a horrible gagging sound erupted behind him, and Aunt Petunia started to scream. Harry wheeled around. Dudley was no longer standing behind his parents. He was kneeling beside the coffee table, and he was gagging and sputtering on a foot-long, purple, slimy thing that was protruding from his mouth. One bewildered second later, Harry realized that the foot-long thing was Dudley's tongue – and that a brightly colored toffee wrapper lay on the floor before him. Aunt Petunia hurled herself onto the ground beside Dudley, seized the end of his swollen tongue, and attempted to wrench it out of his mouth; unsurprisingly, Dudley yelled and sputtered worse than ever, trying to fight her off. Uncle Vernon was bellowing and waving his arms around, and Mr. Weasley had to shout to make himself heard. â€Å"Not to worry, I can sort him out!† he yelled, advancing on Dudley with his wand outstretched, but Aunt Petunia screamed worse than ever and threw herself on top of Dudley, shielding him from Mr. Weasley. â€Å"No, really!† said Mr. Weasley desperately. â€Å"It's a simple process it was the toffee – my son Fred – real practical joker – but it's only an Engorgement Charm – at least, I think it is – please, I can correct it -â€Å" But far from being reassured, the Dursleys became more panic- stricken; Aunt Petunia was sobbing hysterically, tugging Dudley's tongue as though determined to rip it out; Dudley appeared to be suffocating under the combined pressure of his mother and his tongue; and Uncle Vernon, who had lost control completely, seized a china figure from on top of the sideboard and threw it very hard at Mr. Weasley, who ducked, causing the ornament to shatter in the blasted fireplace. â€Å"Now really!† said Mr. Weasley angrily, brandishing his wand. â€Å"I'm trying to help!† Bellowing like a wounded hippo, Uncle Vernon snatched up another ornament. â€Å"Harry, go! Just go!† Mr. Weasley shouted, his wand on Uncle Vernon. â€Å"I'll sort this out!† Harry didn't want to miss the fun, but Uncle Vernon's second ornament narrowly missed his left ear, and on balance he thought it best to leave the situation to Mr. Weasley. He stepped into the fire, looking over his shoulder as he said â€Å"the Burrow!† His last fleeting glimpse of the living room was of Mr. Weasley blasting a third ornament out of Uncle Vernon's hand with his wand, Aunt Petunia screaming and lying on top of Dudley, and Dudley's tongue lolling around like a great slimy python. But next moment Harry had begun to spin very fast, and the Dursleys' living room was whipped out of sight in a rush of emerald-green flames.